Wow 15% a/v, getting up there for The Granite Belt but some powerful fruit emerged from the excellent 2018 vintage and Durif is a big wine, check out some of the a/v’s at Warrabilla.
Golden Grove have always made a very good Durif. Many years ago Peter Stark said to me, “If you like a powerful wine try some Golden Grove Durif”.
Looks really inky in the glass, an impenetrable dark purple and deep red garnets reflect their welcoming colours to you from the meniscus. Swirl this one in a big glass and it’ll reward you with it’s redolence and your patience to let it really catch it’s breath. After approximately 30 minutes of swirling and breathing (it is a very young durif at this stage) the wine delivers a bazooka of berry flavours, intertwined with spices and some lovely cedary oak, if you are very patient you will begin to detect some Granite Belt signature black tea tannin odours and a suggestion of earthy mineral wafts. I guess the wine genuinely appreciates your willingness to develop a relationship and rewards those who do on a, “I’ll give you 10 if you give me 5 basis”.
OK so now your primed senses are ready for a taste! It’s quite an experience, powerful blueberries occupy the frontline, fortified by mulberries, ripe dark purple plums, granitic mineral aspects, the cedary oak again, a refreshing acid and all driven by firm chalky persistant tannins. This is a big wine and definitely deserves your respect. You can drink it now if you really need a lift but for gentler souls I’d suggest a long cellaring and some slow cooked lamb shoulder in mid-winter.
Tasted: Saturday 23rd May, 2020 without food and then with over several hours.
Alcohol: 15%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $30
Suggested Drinking Window: now to 2033
Winemaker: Ray Costanzo
Visit Website
